Cowboy tournament game



Dec. 15, 1959 F. DURRELL COWBOY TOURNAMENT GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 4, 1958 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Dec. 15, 1959 F. DURRELL 2,917,310

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Dec. 15, 1959 L. F. DURRELL COWBOY TOURNAMENT GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 4, 1958 LIZ 1.0a r-reZZ INVENTOR ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent COWBOY TOURNAMENT GAME Louis F. Durrell, San Antonio, Tex.

Application April 4, 1958, Serial No. 726,525

'5 Claims. (Cl. 273-85) This invention relates to games and toys, the primary object of the invention being to provide a game which will be exceptionally attractive and one wherein the skill of the players will play an important part in scoring.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a game which may be played under rules indicating what is commonly known as Cowboy Tournament Riding in which the participants ride charging horses in spearing rings adjacent to a track in the path of travel of the riders, the scoring being determined by the number of rings speared and retained on the spears of the contestants.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game board simulating a track with movable game pieces simulating horses and riders, the riders carrying spears which are so constructed that the spears will when properly directed, spear rings supported adjacent to the track, removing the n'ngs from their supports.

A still further object of the invention is to provide manually controlled electrical mechanism for moving the game pieces vertically as the game pieces move around the track, thereby bringing the spears of the game pieces in line with the suspended rings, the vertical movements of the game pieces governing the position of the spears, in spearing the rings.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an electrically controlled audible signal which is automatically sounded with the removal of each ring from its support, by the spears of the game pieces.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as :claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a game board which is in the form of a circular track, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the game board and track illustrating a game piece moving to a position to spear a ring.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

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Fig. 8 is a fragmental sectional view through the solenoid and its housing.

Fig. 9 is a view illustrating a modified form of track designed for elevating thegame piece at predetermined points along the track.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the game board indicated generally by the reference character 5 is in the form of a circular track 6 constructed to provide a circular housing including side walls 7, bottom 8 and a removable cover 9. Mounted within the circular track and secured to the bottom thereof, is a track comprising rails 10 over which a carrier 11 operates, the carrier in the present showing being controlled by a spring motor (not shown).

As better shown by Fig. 1 of'the drawings, the cover 9 is formed with a slot 12 through which a hollow post 13 extends, the hollow post 13 being secured to the carrier 11. This hollow post 13 is connected with thegame piece 14 which includes a simulated horse and rider, the rider having a spear 15 secured thereto and extending forwardly from the rider.

Mounted within the game piece is a solenoid 16, better shown by Fig. 8' of the drawings, the solenoid including a core 17 that extends through an opening in the game piece, where it connects with the portion of the game piece 18 representing a rider, the rider being so constructed that it may move vertically with respect to the game piece proper. A coiledspring 19 is connected between the rider 18 and the end of the solenoid, normally biasing the rider 18 downwardly to the position as shown by Fig.2 of the drawings.

Electric wires 20 are extended through the hollow post 13 and connect with the wheels 21 of the carrier 11, the wheels 21 rotating on the rails 10 which are in circuit with a source of electricity supplied through wires 22. A switch 23 is in the circuit embodying wires 22, and by operating the switch it will be seen that the solenoid '16 will be energized moving, the core 17 vertically and con sequently elevating the game piece to a position-where the spear will align with a ring, to be hereinafter more fully described in spearing a ring. Arranged in predetermined spaced relation with respect to each other, around the track, are vertical hollow supporting posts 24, through which the wires are connected with a suitable source of electricity supply which may be a battery, as indicated by reference character 25. Each supporting post 24 includes a horizontal arm '26 that provides a support for a flexible ring supporting arm 27, the lower end of which is provided with a slot 28 into which a ring to be speared, and indicated by the reference character 29, extends, the ring being held by frictional contact with the edges ofthe slot so that it may be readily removed by the spear 15 as the game pieces pass thereunder.

An electrical contact 30 is secured to the inner surface of the supporting arm 27 and is disposed directly opposite to the contact member 37, the contact members 30 and 37 being in circuit with the source of electricity supply through wires 32 and 33. Wires 32 and 33 extend through the horizontal arms 26 of the vertical hollow supporting posts and connect with the contact members 30 and 37, as clearly shown by Fig. 5 of the drawings. The wires 32 and 33 also connect with the electric bell 34 so that when a circuit is completed between contacts'30 and 37 of a supporting post 24, the hell or audible signal will be operated, indicating that a ring has been removed from its holder. It is obvious that when a ring is speared, the force of the spear entering the ring will cause the flexible ring supporting member 27 to move in the direction of the arrow, shown in Fig. 5, to complete the circuit between contacts 30 and 37.

It will, of course, be understood that the rails of the current from the source of electricity supply.

track; are formed. intov sections, the sections being insulated. from. each other by insulating material, as indicated by the reference character 35, to the end that only the portions between the ends of the rails of the adjacent sections provide portions of the circuits to the contact members 30 and 31, so that the circuit to the solenoid is only completed as the wheels ofv the carrier moveover the charged portions of the. track at the time the switch 23 is operated to complete the circuit, to the end; that the vertical movement of the game piece relies on the skill of the player in operating the switch at the proper time tocause the portion of the game piece. representing the rider, to move vertically to aposition to spear a ring.

In theform; of the invention as shown by Fig. 9 of the drawings, the track, which is indicated by the reference character 35 is shown as slightly elevated at points adjacent to the ring supporting posts, so that as the carrier on. which th game piece is supported, moves over the elevated portionsv of the, track, the game piece will be elevated to move the spear of the game piece in registry withv the ring held on the supporting post, for spearing the ring.

It; mightbe further statedthat while I have shown and described a carrier whichis operated by means of a spring motor, it is within, the scope of the invention, to propel the carrier through the medium of an electric motor mounted in the. carrier and supplied with electric It is pointed out that the electric current may be supplied from the. usual house wiring system in lieu of the battery 25, in the. usual and well known manner.

In operation, the carrier moves around the circular track, under the power of a spring motor, not shown, and the player operates the switch 23 to complete the circuit, to the solenoid at a time when he believes the game piece is in a position, to be elevated to align the spear with a ring.

It is obvious that as the carrier continues around the track. the player will again actuate the switch to complete a circuit to the solenoid in aneffortto elevate the game piece to aposition to spear another ring. This operation is, repeated until the game piece has completely circled the track, the number of rings speared indicating the scoring point of the game. I

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Ina game, a track, a motor propelled carrier Opel.- ating on said. track, a game, piece simulating a horse and rider, includinga spear, mounted on said carrier, game rings, means for supporting said game rings adjacent to said track in the path of travel of said game piece to be speared by said spear, and electrically. controlled mechanism for elevating said spear to a position in line with a. ring'to, be speared.

2. Ina game, a track, a carrier movable around said track, a game piece mounted on said carrier to move ,4 therewith, said game piece including a spear, means for releasably supporting game rings. adjacent to said. track, normally above the line of travel of said spear, and electrically operated manually controlled means for elevating said game piece and spear to a position in line with a ring for spearing and removing said ring from its holder.

3. In a game, a track including a circular housing having a top and a slot extending throughout the entire top, a carrier movable around said track, a hollow post secured tov said carrier extending through said slot, 2. game piece including a, spear, secured to said post above said track, said game piece embodying a vertically movable member including a spear, game rings removably supported above said track, in. the path of travel of said game piece, and mechanism for moving said game piece vertically aligning said spear with said game rings as said game piece travels around said track, spearing said rings.

4. In a game, a game board comprising a track, a figured; gamepiece-including a base simulating a charging horse and a spear carrying rider movable vertically with respect. to said base, a carrier on which, said game piece is mounted, movable over said. track, game. rings, means for; supporting said game rings above, said, track in the path of traveloi said game piece, and electrically con trolled. mechanism for moving said spear carrying section of said game piece vertically elevating said spear to a position for spearing a ring upon movement of said game piece over said track, and mechanism for producing an audible signal indicatingv the removal of a game ring from its holder, by said spear.

5.. In a game, a game board comprising a track, game ring holders supported adjacent to said track, a carrier movable over said track, a figured game piece mounted on; said carrier, a vertically disposed solenoid including a vertically movable core mounted. on said carrier, to which said game piece is connected, :1 horizontally supported spear forming a part of said game piece, movable vertically with said game piece, a normally open electric cir' euit including, a switch and electricity supply, mounted on said game, board providing. a circuit to the solenoid, game rings supported by said ring holders in the path of travel of, said game piece, the latter being movable vertically with said solenoid core upon energizing said solenoid, to move said game piece and spear vertically in line with said game rings upon completion of said elec trical circuit through said switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 609,390 Hallstein- Aug. 16, 1898 2,593,147 Hubbard Apr. 15, 1952 2,789,395 Sprouse Apr. 23, 1957 2,792,224 White May 14, 1957 2,819,900- Brackett Jan. 14, 1958 2,840,378 Harvey June 24, I958 

